Method and apparatus for communications using distributed services in a mobile ad hoc network (MANET)

Abstract

A wireless device may share one or more of its resources to other devices within a mobile ad-hoc network (MANET) which share the same association. The device may share its processing unit capability by performing tasks on behalf of the other devices. The device may share its memory unit by storing data on behalf of the other devices. The device sharing its resources and the other devices using the shared resources may dynamically perform updates to reflect changes to the MANET.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A device, comprising: 
 a transceiver to enable wireless communication with one or more other devices in a mobile network which share a common association, wherein the wireless communication allows for usage of one or more services provided by the one or more other devices, and wherein routes among the one or more other devices are dynamically updated to reflect changes in the network.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication further allows for authentication of the device in the network.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication further allows for propagation of knowledge of the one or more services provided by the one or more other devices across the network.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the routes are dynamically updated based on least cost routing.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the changes in the network include insertion, removal and relocation of the one or more other devices.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more services include storage service, processing service, input and output service, and bridge and gateway service.  
     
     
         7 . A device comprising: 
 a transceiver to enable providing one or more services to one or more other devices in a wireless network, to enable authenticating the one or more other devices as having a common association, and to enable propagating knowledge about the one or more other devices across the wireless network.    
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the knowledge about the one or more other devices include services provided by the one or more other devices.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more services provided to the one or more other devices include processing service to perform one or more tasks on behalf of the one or more other devices.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more services provided to the one or more other devices include storage service to store data on behalf of the one or more other devices.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more services provided to the one or more other devices include input/output (I/O) service to perform I/O operations on behalf of the one or more other devices.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more services provided to the one or more other devices include bridge/gateway service to allow the one or more other devices to exchange data with a device connected to a wired network.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the transceiver is further to enable dynamic updating of routes to the one or more other devices to reflect changes in the network.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the routes are dynamically updated based on least cost routing.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the routes are dynamically updated per synchronization period.  
     
     
         16 . A method, comprising: 
 discovering nearby devices in a wireless network;    performing authentication with the nearby devices;    propagating knowledge of services provided by the nearby devices; and    using the services provided by the nearby devices.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein performing authentication with the nearby devices comprises verifying that the nearby devices have a common association.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the nearby devices are devices positioned within a wireless communication range, and wherein the knowledge of the services provided by the nearby devices are propagated to other devices positioned inside and outside the a wireless communication range that have the common association.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 determining routes to the nearby devices.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein determining the routes to the nearby devices comprises: 
 determining a synchronization period with each of the nearby devices; and    dynamically performing route updates at each synchronization period to reflect changes to the network that occur since a previous synchronization.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the changes to the network include changes to positions of the nearby devices, changes to a number of nearby devices, and changes to the services provided by the nearby devices.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 exchanging knowledge of services provided with the nearby devices.    
     
     
         23 . An article of manufacture, comprising: 
 a machine-accessible medium including data that, when accessed by a machine, cause the machine to performs operations comprising:    discovering nearby devices in a wireless network;    performing authentication with the nearby devices;    propagating knowledge of services provided by the nearby devices; and    using the services provided by the nearby devices.    
     
     
         24 . The article of manufacture of  claim 23 , wherein performing authentication with the nearby devices comprises verifying that the nearby devices have a common association.  
     
     
         25 . The article of manufacture of  claim 24 , wherein the nearby devices are devices positioned within a wireless communication range, and wherein the knowledge of the services provided by the nearby devices are propagated to other devices that have the common association and that are positioned inside and outside the wireless communication range  
     
     
         26 . The article of manufacture of  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 determining routes to the nearby devices.    
     
     
         27 . The article of manufacture of  claim 26 , wherein determining the routes to the nearby devices comprises: 
 determining a synchronization period with each of the nearby devices; and    dynamically performing route updates at each synchronization period to reflect changes to the network that occur since a previous synchronization.    
     
     
         28 . The article of manufacture of  claim 27 , wherein the changes to the network include changes to positions of the nearby devices, changes to a number of nearby devices, and changes to the services provided by the nearby devices.  
     
     
         29 . The article of manufacture of  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 exchanging knowledge of services provided with the nearby devices.    
     
     
         30 . A method, comprising propagating knowledge of services provided by one or more devices that have been discovered and authenticated to share a common association in a wireless network, wherein routes to the discovered devices are dynamically updated.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising: 
 determining the routes to the discovered devices;    determining a synchronization period with each of the discovered devices; and    exchanging knowledge of services provided with the discovered devices.    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the routes to the discovered devices are dynamically updated at each synchronization period.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising using the services provided by the discovered devices.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the services include processing service, storage service, bridge and gateway service, and input and output service.